LEARNING CENTRE

Drilling can be a complex topic. We are here to make it easier. We’re not only interested in performing work but also helping our customers make educated decisions and get the most out of their investment. Select a category from the index below, or scroll on to browse freely.

GENERAL TOPICS

Site Service Clearances

Site clearances must be valid and in place before any drilling job may be started. The owner or person contracting us to do your drilling job is responsible for ensuring that all services such as but not limited to: Gas, electrical, water etc. and are clearly marked when around immediate area of drilling area and that the area has been given clearance by those companies are in place to cover the duration of the drilling job. If a linewatch is required while drilling, it is the owner/hiree’s responsibility to line this up in conjunction with your scheduled drilling appt.

All sites must be accessible by a rubber wheel mounted drilling rig and service unit. There must be adequate room for both of these vehicles to access the property and set up operations.

Drilling can be messy and it is the owners responsibility to have adequate drainage and clean up after job as necessary.

WELL TYPES

Drilled wells

Drilled wells are constructed by either cable tool (percussion) or rotary-drilling machines. Drilled wells that penetrate unconsolidated material require installation of casing and a screen to prevent inflow of sediment and collapse. They can be drilled more than 1,000 feet deep. The space around the casing must be sealed with grouting material of either neat cement or bentonite clay to prevent contamination by water draining from the surface downward around the outside of the casing.

A drilled well consists of a hole bored into the ground, with the upper part being lined with casing. The casing prevents the collapse of the borehole walls and (grout seal) prevents surface or subsurface contaminants from entering the water supply. The casing also provides a housing for a pumping mechanism and for the pipe that moves water from the pump to the surface.

Various conditions make it impossible to guarantee that a well contractor will find an adequate supply of groundwater at your location. For example, the geology in an area may be such that groundwater is not available at your site even though a neighbor’s well is a good producer. It is not advisable to build your home until you know you have an adequate water supply on your building site. Depending on the locale, this may mean drilling and testing a well prior to initiating construction of the house.

Residential Wells

A private water supply well to serve an individual lot. An average household uses approximately 200-400 gallons of water per day, 5 gallons per minute is typically an adequate amount for daily residential consumption. These are the most common wells found in rural Manitoba.

Cottage Wells

These well water systems are used to connect to deep water supplies, sometimes over 200’ in depth. They cost more to construct but generally provide a much more reliable and safe supply of drinking water. Water is usually pumped from the well by a submersible pump.

Granite Wells

For the larger part of Manitoba, most granite wells are located in the Whiteshell area which generally are used for cottages.

Most granite bedrock contains few cracks at depths normally reached by wells. That’s why it’s often difficult to get a lot of water from a granite well. The few water-bearing cracks present in granite usually occur in the first 200 feet.
Sometimes hydrofracturing is required to obtain a higher yield, in which large volumes of water are injected into a drill hole under thousands of pounds of pressure to open water-bearing cracks in bedrock.

Many drillers recommend extending the bedrock drill hole to great depths for low-yielding wells because the drill hole can act as a water storage reservoir. for example: A six-inch diameter drill hole or casing can hold one-and-one-half gallons of water for every foot of depth. If your new well is deep, it may store a large volume of water even if the well becomes recharged with groundwater very slowly. A six-inch diameter well containing 200 feet of standing water could store 300 gallons of water.

Families who use water prudently can get by with a well yielding one gallon a minute or less if the well has enough depth to provide storage capacity.

Industrial Wells

Probably every manufactured product uses water during some part of the production process. Industrial water use includes water used for such purposes as fabricating, processing, washing, diluting, cooling, or transporting a product; incorporating water into a product; or for sanitation needs within the manufacturing facility. Some industries that use large amounts of water produce such commodities as food, paper, chemicals, refined petroleum, or primary metals.

Commercial Wells

Whether your business requires 1/2 gpm (gallon per minute) or 500 gpm or more, commercial use wells are any well that is used for the production and/or operation of any commercial business. Commercial wells provide water for, but not limited for the following examples:

large capacity washing facilities such as automotive car washes

bottling facilities

fertilizer plants

feed mills

apartment complex heating & cooling

Dewatering wells

Temporary wells which are used to pull water from an area which needs to be de-watered for specific purposes, ie.

installation of an underground parking lot.

foundation concrete for basements & below ground structures

installation or replacement/repair tasks on retention reservoirs

Geothermal Wells

With geothermal heating and cooling, liquid is carried through a sealed underground system of pipes. With the help of a geothermal unit, the liquid “moves” heat into, or out of, your home or commercial building.

Supply Wells-Open Loop

Return Wells-Open Loop

Vertical loop-Closed Loop

Observation Wells

Some wells are dug solely to study water quality or quantity: these are called monitoring wells or observation wells

Livestock Wells

Water wells used exclusively for livestock purposes such as watering, cleaning, barn supply etc. These wells are stand alone for the purpose of livestock. A separate, residential well is used for domestic purposes if applicable to the property.

FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS

How do you determine the depth of wells in our area?

We use the knowledge we have acquired since 1892 and the computerized records supplied by Manitoba Water Stewardship and Saskatchewan Watershed Authority.

If you would like to find out about a well on your property you can contact Manitoba Water Stewardship:

Prices are usually based on footage and the area where the well is drilled in addition to grout and screens if applicable. Wells must be grouted to prevent surface water from entering the groundwater. In some cases an hourly rate is charged.

How far do you have to be from the house, septic tank, etc.?

In Manitoba and Saskatchewan, there are no regulations governing the distance a well has to be from a dwelling or property line, but we recommend you check the local bylaws. We recommend that wells be located at away from septic tank and field at least (b) no closer than 15m (50 feet) to a drilled water well equipped with a casing to a depth of not less than 6 m (20 feet) below ground level. Or (c) no closer than 30 m (100 feet) to a spring or water well other than described in clause (b)

How much water do I need?

Over a 24-hour period only a fraction of a gallon per minute (GPM) is required, however at peak times it is good to have at least 5 GPM or if available.

Do we do the well hook-up and septic tank?

We specialize in water well drilling and installing commercial pumps and pitless units, etc. Domestic well hook-ups including pump installation and septic tanks are done by plumbing contractors.

Will we need to install a water softener?

Most well water in Manitoba and Saskatchewan is hard and will need to be softened as desired.

What is a well screen and will we need one?

A well screen is essentially a stainless steel filter and is required in areas where water is obtained from a sand or gravel aquifer.

Where should the well go on the property?

Idealy, wells should be located on higher ground away from a dwelling, but within a reasonable distance so that it is always accessible. We also recommend that wells be located at least 30ft. from any septic tank and 50ft. from any septic field.

Why is my well not the same depth as my neighbour's?

Wells are often the same depth in an area but not always. There is no absolute.

Will there be a big mess?

Unfortunately there is always a mess. Only the degree varies. Site clean up is the property owners responsibility. Ensuring the route we take to access the desired drill location is firm and free from obstruction with adequate drainage around the area helps. To put it simply, our equipment is large and heavy. Keep this in mind when you are planning your well location.

Are there grants available?

No, not in Manitoba. In Saskatchewan contact the local district office. Manitoba Hydro offers assistance on Ground Source Heating Systems. As grants vary from time to time, it is best to contact these sources directly for the most up to date information.

What is the purpose of grouting the casing?

Grouting the casing helps prevent surface contaminants from entering an aquifer. In flowing Artesian wells it prevents water from migrating to the surface beside the casing.

How long will my well last and how long is my warranty?

While there is no absolute, most wells last from 20 to 75 years. Our wells are covered by a 1-year workmanship warranty. We do not guarantee quality or quantity of water.

Should water be tested?

To ensure that the well and plumbing system is safe, all new wells should be tested after the well has been hooked up and the system has been chlorinated. For details on testing you can contact:

Winter drilling is dependent on the weather. We can drill in milder temperatures, but as it gets colder, the ability to work with water becomes increasingly difficult to impossible as the mercury drops.